'Focus' (Jiaodian Fangtan) and the Changes in the Chinese ...

LI XIAOPING
As Xiao Yang, President of China’s Supreme People’s Court announced in April
1998,
All courts must be monitored conscientiously by public opinion, all cases shall be
heard in public, except those involving state secrets, individual privacy or minors.
Black box operation is not allowed. Media coverage is welcome. 12
And as Zhao Yuezhi noted,
On a more practical level, watchdog journalism helps the central leadership to
implement concrete reform initiatives and strengthen the state by making it more
ef� cient, open and responsive. 13
Of� cials are themselves members of the media audience, as we have already
seen. They watch television programs and assiduously follow other media coverage.
When breaking news develops, the media is one of the major information
sources for the government of� cials who are affected by it. They closely monitor
the media to stay in tune with the aspirations and concerns of people and get the
latest information of such breaking news. Through interviews, experts and scholars
are also able to contribute their thoughts on policymaking.
Moreover, the media is also under pressure to improve their own work and
professionalism as they come under close watch by the public. The pressure is for
them to be objective, impartial and accurate, otherwise the news programs might
be taken to court.
In summary, daily oversight and pressure from the media have become part of
an everyday life instead of, as in the past, an exception. Consequently, interactions
among the media, the government and of� cials have made the whole of Chinese
society much more open, transparent and democratic.
The media as a social stabilizing force
By playing an effective watchdog, the media have helped to stabilize social order.
This function not only meets the demand of both the government and the public,
but also serves as a channel. An executive producer of ‘Focus’, Ye Xiaolin, points
out:
The watchdog function has formed an important social coordinating power which is
outside the state machinery. 14
As Chen Xiaowei, former CCTV anchorwoman on ‘Sunday Topics’ notes,
The media serve as useful tools in both letting the public vent their concerns and
resentments and helping the government � nd the bad apples. 15
12. This quotation is found in Ye Xiaolin’s paper, ‘The current environment for media watchdog and journalist
position’ [‘Xinwen Yulun Jiandu de Xianshi Huanjing yu Jizhe Dingwei’], China Radio and Television [Zhongguo
Guangbo Dianshi] 5, (2000), pp. 96–97.
13. Zhao Yuezhi, ‘Watchdogs on party leashes?’, pp. 577–597.
14. Ye Xiaolin, ‘The current environment for media watchdog and journalist position’, pp. 96–97.
15. Chen Xiaowei, ‘The multiple roles of media in today’s Chinese society’.
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